Bopath Ella in Kuruwita is one of the most visited water falls in Sri Lanka. Thousands of revellers visit this fall for sheer leisure after tiring pilgrimage or educational tours in the area.
Minara Hotel, overlooking the Fall is the best nest of the guests to the Fall. Minara could be described as the hotel in Sri Lanka having the best view of a magnificent water fall. All bed rooms, restaurant, reception and lobby opens up different vistas of the water fall and the draping landscape around it. I have not experienced this unique feature in any of the hotels close to any water fall in any part of the country.
The view, the sounds of the waterfall, the music from the natural environment that surrounds the hotel and the changing landscape as the day runs through could be seen and felt from all parts of the hotel. Even the Reception Hall located away from the main hotel building has been designed to provide privacy for the guests occupying the hotel yet not compromising of the view of the 30 metere high waterfall from a higher elevation which opens up to the landscaped gardens.
Minara provides all comforts for the visitor. The basic requirements and more, it is there in all 11 rooms. A/C with attached bathrooms, hot water, TV, room telephones and tastefully decorated rooms along with public areas and the restaurant provides a haven for the visitor to the wilderness of the environs.
‘The other unique feature is the personalised service. Minara is famous for its view and service’ said Ranjith Dharmawansa, who overlooks the operations at Minara. Economically priced Minara provides the ideal hideaway for visitors from the usual hustle and bustle to enjoy nature and the homely comforts to top it off with an excellent array of local and western cuisine.
‘Minara is popular among Sri Lankan guests and we have knack to cater their needs’ Ranjith said
‘The Village type food served on the second floor restaurant, which can accommodate up to 35 pax. It has been a gourmet treat for the Eastern food lovers and for the foreign visitors to savour something different from what they have tried on round trip hotels’ explained the Chef. Nearly 175 pax can be accommodate at the banquet hall. Private parties, conferences and corporate functions too are popular at this venue.
Minara is a popular choice of honeymooners. The seclusion, privacy, comforts and the added wrapping of nature around one to keep mind, body and soul conditioned in perfect harmony makes it a sort after destination of honeymooners.
‘Many of our visitors are repeat visitors. Even the honeymoon couples have made it a point to return time and again. They all carry fond memories of the hotel and the natural environment’ commented Yohan Perera, the Manager of Minara.
The hotel is the perfect place to relax, unwind or to be used as an adventure base station to explore the treasures of nature that surrounds the Bopath Ella falls. For those interested in bird watching there are over 50 species in the vicinity of the hotel. For the more daring there are nature trails, hikes and aqua challenges to indulge in. The hike to Dodam Ella, another waterfall nestling in the jungles of Bopath Ella and Devi pahala areas will take the visitor along a river connecting onto Kuru ganga at Bopath Ella, across tea estates, rock climbs and cooling the body as one goes along in pools of fresh and chilling water.
A more adventurous and challenging hike is to Adam’s Peak across Erathna. ‘Many foreigners have done this hike during the season and have enjoyed it greatly. They are accompanied by guides who know the area well and all the requirements for the trip including food are carried by them’ said Yohan.
Among other places of tourist interest in close proximity is the Diva Guhawa and the Batadomba Lena. It is a 20 minute drive to the Saman Devale in Ratnapura and other tourist attractions in Ratnapura including Gem pits.
Minara is equipped to hold residential workshops, seminars and conferences. Under the guidance of trainers the hotel carries out many team building packages for the corporate sector.
Minara is reasonably priced enabling the Sri Lankan to flavour the beauty in abundance the land offers. ‘We believe that the bedrock of the tourist industry is the domestic traveller and we try to give them our best at all times. said Ranjith.
The price range from Rs. 3500/- per room only to Rs. 5550/- F/B/D.
Box - Minara is offering 10% discount on this prices to the visitors, who bring this article on TV Times, when they visit the hotel next time. This offer is valid till April 30.
For more information and reservations visit www.minarabopathella.com or call 045 2263610, 0777784362. Pix by Shan Bandu Weerasinghe
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